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How to Choose a US-based Online Degree?
Catalin Braescu asks: "I have an Egyptian friend which wants to finish highschool in US, using an online degree institution. Her American BF advises her to go for Keystone, but I really don't think she can later on be admitted to any college with that kind of diploma. So I am asking Slashdot if there are any good resources online (or at least some easy-to-understand checking points) to verify whether any online diploma is good for going to college or is just some worthless paper. Being from Europe, I can hardly know such details myself - and the same issue can be applied to online college degrees, too. HELP!"
I'd try to email the admissions offices of a few universities, and ask them. They'd know.
People who drop out of school here in the states can get something called a GED, which is a "high school equivilancy" certification. I know that people with GEDs can go to university here, although they usually woulnd't be able to get into top tier schools. But many public state universities will take them.
So I think that it might be possible to make something work -- the standards here are different from those in Europe, and are (unfortunately) lower. But it will help your friend.
The main thing, though, is to talk to people at admissions departments, because they know who they'll take and who they won't.
I'd try state schools.
I think if she wants to get admitted into a US university, her best bet would probably be to finish high school in Egypt (or get a GED from the US), and apply to a US college as a foreigner. Colleges like diversity and foreigners.
- dshaw
> Like a few other posters have pointed out; you can always go for a GED,
> which is generally as good as any high school diploma.
No, it's not. It's more like a certificate of completion. It'll get you a
job that doesn't require anything beyond high school only if there aren't
any better applicants, and it'll get you into most major universities,
including any state school of course, but it is *not* the same as having
graduated high school in the first place.
What would be better than a GED, as far as college admissions are concerned --
especially smaller schools with higher standards than the state schools -- is
a halfway decent SAT score, plus a diploma from your home country that is the
closest available equivalent there to what a high school diploma is here.
But when all is said and done, the frist psot is right: talk to the
admissions officers (and, frankly, also the financial aid department) at
the colleges you are interested in attending. They will know what will
get you enrolled and what won't, and what will get you considered for
grants and scholarships and what won't, too.
Cut that out, or I will ship you to Norilsk in a box.
So the GED has been mentioned. However, many American colleges and universities don't actually require high school graduation or a GED, if the student is otherwise qualified. This can be determined through testing. Most people don't realize this, but in fact it's true. OTOH, a GED should be a breeze for anyone who's truly college material.
I suggest your friend try to go straight to college. Contact admissions departments to see what the requirements actually are, and the best way to get from "here to there." One caveat though -- is your friend really ready for college, emotionally, and maturity wise? Think about this carefully -- even if intellectually ready, most students under 18, and especially under 16, are simply not ready for college level responsibilities. Then there's the language/cultural issue -- is this student fluent enough in English, and comfortable enough with American culture, to handle college studies?
I went to high school in a foreign country. I returned to the US for my senior year. In retrospect I should have gone straight to college, rather than waste that one year in American high school. (It really was a waste, but that's another story.) I was ready, both intellectually and emotionally. But the idea never occurred to me, my parents, or any of the counsellors I talked to. So I say to anyone in the same situation, if you think you're ready, just go for it. A good community college or state school is no more or less demanding than a rigorous high school program, but it puts you much further ahead in life. Coming from elsewhere, the rest of the American "high school experience" is meaningless anyway. Might as well adjust to college instead.
Think carefully. I have no idea what schools are like in Egypt, and I suspect few others here do either. While US schools sometimes get picked on, we know what they are like, and overall it isn't too bad. Most people think of Egypt as some backwords country where people don't even know what the light bulb is, and few even attend school, much less make it to third grade. So one advantage you will have by doing this is ignorant people will trust the degree. (This same advantage would apply to any distance learning from Europe. American's tend to think the Europe's schools are pretty good, but have no real knowledge)
However there are disadvantages. You loose social time with your peers, which despite the idiots in most high schools, is still useful. (You will have to deal with those idiots for the rest of your life, so you better learn to do it)
Also I would assume that Egyptians would think less of the degree than a local one. (though maybe not, if everyone knows Egyption schools are bad they might think more of it) Which means if you get this you are pretty much forced to move to the US (or at least go to college in the US), which can be difficult to do. The US doesn't let just anyone in anymore, much of Europe would though, and Europe has a good standard of living. (though not 100% the same, Europeans and Americans have different tastes) So consider a European degree which might work better for you.
In general I think less of any distance learning than of the "equivalent" degree earned by attending class. However not everyone is like me, and your friend may not have much a choice. In fact in your friend case, if he gives a good case for Egypt's schools being junk (remember like most people I'm ignorant on the topic so this should be easy), the fact that he went through the effort to get a US degree, even if it is second best, is impressive. The effort of finding and using this program on his own impresses me more than a US high school degree, precisely because he is from Egypt. (but only if he convinces me that Egypt's schools are junk)
Check with the local law. If they refuse to consider this program the equivalent of a local degree it might hamper anything you want to do back home because you cannot claim to have a high school degree, even though you have a "better" US degree.
One last thought. When I was in high school there were some students who were home schooled who came to school for a few hours every day for band and other such classes where a group is required. It would be a good idea to see if the local school will allow you take math and English at home, and then those other classes with locals. Some schools are really against this idea, while some will go for it In fact if you convince the school this program is good you might end up with the local degree and the US degree, which is a good end run around local laws!